The tarp is coming up and first pitch is expected at 6:40. 

The Twins will announce the results of Jesse Crain’s MRI exam after the game….

For anyone who follows the minors: The recent callups to the majors have caused a ripple effect through the system.

Righthanders Nick Blackburn and J.P. Martinez have been promoted from Class AA New Britain to Class AAA Rochester.

Righthanders Kyle Waldrop (a first-round pick in 2004) and Frank Mata are moving from Class A Fort Myers to New Britain.

No promotions from Beloit to Fort Myers for now, but righthander Matt Fox ( a first-round sandwich pick in 2004) is being activated and assigned to Beloit. Fox was hitting 90-93 on the gun before shoulder surgery cost him all of 2005. He struggled with velocity last year at Elizabethton. He came to camp this year throwing 84-86 but has rehabbed and is now touching 90 again, so they are going to let him pitch.

Of this group. I’ve been high on Waldrop and Fox. People ripped me a couple years ago for putting Waldrop on the Twins’ top ten prospects list, but this kid can change speeds and has good control. This will be worth watching.  

And Jeff Manship stays at Beloit for now, although I would not be surprised if they move him up after his next start. 

Here are the lineups:

Twins: 1. Castillo, 2B. 2. Bartlett, SS. 3. Cuddyer, RF. 4. Morneau, 1B. 5. Hunter, CF. 6. Cirillo, DH. 7. Ford, LF. 8. Heintz, C. 9. Punto, 3B. Pitching: Silva.

 

Cleveland: 1. Sizemore, CF. 2. Blake, 3B. 3. Hafner, DH. 4. Martinez, C. 5. Nixon, RF. 6. Peralta, SS. 7. Dellucci, LF. 8. Garko, 1B. 9. Barfield, 2B. Pitching: Sabathia.

Not good news from Cleveland tonight.

Jesse Crain’s shoulder has flared up on him again, to the point where he’s headed to the DL. The Twins will call up Julio DePaula from the minors and Pat Neshek can fill in for Crain. That’s not a problem.

But the organization has to be a little uneasy over the fact that they gave Crain a three-year deal during spring training, and now a pitcher who has been very durable has shoulder problems. Don’t get me wrong, I would have locked up Crain too. It just shows that you can’t predict the future.

DePaula had a 6.75 ERA in spring and I really don’t remember his outings. But he was the best of the relievers down there, so he gets the shot. I didn’t have time to get a scouting report on him after the game but will on Wednesday.

If things weren’t bad enough, there’s food poisoning moving through the clubhouse. Torii Hunter, Joe Nathan and Rick Stelmaszek are among the affected Twins.

Kevin Slowey was excellent again for Class AAA Rochester - 7.2 innings, one earned runs on seven hits and a walk. Slowey is beating on the door but Baker could still be the one to get the shot Saturday against the Brewers. I still think Slowey will contribute before the season is over.

As for Ramon Ortiz, the Washington writers warned me that he will have four good starts and then four awful ones. And tonight’s was awful. Falling behind hitters and throwing meatballs were unheard of from this guy in camp and through the first three starts. Let’s see how he responds. Right now, the Washington writers look like they knew what they were talking about.

(Yawn) That’s all I’ve got. See you Wednesday….

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Garrett Jones debuts tonight!

Mauer continues to make progress, but no one knows when he’ll  be ready. Cleveland does have a, `swimming treadmill,’ that Mauer can use for rehab. The Dome doesn’t have one, but the new ballpark will.

Cleveland, according to the players, used to have some of the worst clubhouse food in baseball. It was so bad that Eddie Guardado and LaTroy Hawkins used to order out. Now Cleveland has a new visiting clubhouse attendant and he’s raised the bar. Players are eating in here like never before. 

Troubling stat of the night, provided by Dustin Morse of the Twins’ baseball communications department: The Twins are 5-8 the next game after games in which they’ve had at least 22 hits. 

Gardy was talking about bunting on C.C. Sabathia tomorrow. I’ve heard that one before. The Twins tried it a few years ago but C.C. starting throwing at people and the Twins stopped. Still, Jerry White had a big presentation on the field early this afternoon about using the bunt as a weapon in general, but especially against lefties like C.C. We’ll see.

Twins. 1. Castillo, 2B. 2. Bartlett, SS. 3. Cuddyer, RF. 4. Morneau, 1B. 5. Hunter, CF. 6. Kubel, LF. 7. Redmond. 8. Jones, DH. 9. Punto, 3B. Pitching: Ortiz.

Cleveland. 1. Sizemore, CF. 2. Blake, 3B. 3. Hafner, DH. 4. Martinez, 1B. 5.  Peralta, SS. 6. Dellucci, LF. 7. Michaels, RF. 8. Barfield, 2B. 9. Shoppach, C. Pitching: Paul Byrd

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Here’s a story in today’s Cleveland Plain-Dealer that assesses  the A.L. Central at this point. Check it out as the Twins prepare for a three-game series with the Indians.

 

I’ll have a new podcast up soon….

O.K. I’m settled in my room just a few blocks away from Jacobs Field, where the Mighty Defenders of the Cuyahoga are waiting for the Twins to come in for a three-game series.

It’s already been a busy season, for the right and wrong reasons. If you have Twins-related questions, I’ll try to answer them the best I can. Bring them on!